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Grenada🇬🇩 | beachesMagazine BeachSnorkeling off the rocks, calm bay, La Sirena Beach Bar, kayaking | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Magazine Beach
🏆 Top pickbeach ranked #2
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Magazine Beach sits so close to the runway that you can walk here after landing, which makes it an easy first or last swim of a Grenada trip. The bay lies below Point Salines, on the southwest tip of Grenada, facing the Caribbean. The water is usually calm and clear enough for kayaking and snorkeling off the rocks, and the sand is kept tidy by the hotels and restaurants behind it. Crowds stay thin outside cruise-heavy weeks, though you will share the beach with villa guests and resort day visitors. Eating and sleeping here lean pricey, so plan to pick up groceries before you arrive. Come in the morning when the water is glassy and the snorkeling is at its clearest. Compared with neighboring Pink Gin Beach, which feels like an extension of a big resort, Magazine Beach is smaller, rockier and more relaxed.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #2 beach in GrenadaWhy visitors keep coming back

Magazine Beach earns its stop because of one thing: it is the easiest swim you can get on arrival or departure. The bay is a few minutes from Maurice Bishop International Airport, so a long-haul flight can end with salt water within the hour, and a late flight out can still include a final snorkel. That makes it the natural bookend to a trip around the island.

The second reason is the rocks in front of the Aquarium restaurant at the south end. Gentle water and an easy entry put fish within a few strokes of the shore, and you do not need a boat or a tour to see them. Kayaking from the beach works for the same reason, since there is no heavy swell to fight.

The third is the neighborhood. La Sirena Beach Bar and the Maca Bana villas sit right behind the sand, and Pink Gin Beach and Sandals … read more 👉
Magazine Beach earns its stop because of one thing: it is the easiest swim you can get on arrival or departure. The bay is a few minutes from Maurice Bishop International Airport, so a long-haul flight can end with salt water within the hour, and a late flight out can still include a final snorkel. That makes it the natural bookend to a trip around the island.

The second reason is the rocks in front of the Aquarium restaurant at the south end. Gentle water and an easy entry put fish within a few strokes of the shore, and you do not need a boat or a tour to see them. Kayaking from the beach works for the same reason, since there is no heavy swell to fight.

The third is the neighborhood. La Sirena Beach Bar and the Maca Bana villas sit right behind the sand, and Pink Gin Beach and Sandals are a walk along the coast past rocky coves. It is a quiet pause between buses and hostels, with a few places to sit in the shade.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Magazine Beach

  1. Snorkeling off the rocks at the south end: The best spot is in front of the Aquarium restaurant, where rocks meet calm, clear water. Fish gather along the rock edges, so you can drift along the shoreline without a boat or a guide.
  2. Swimming in the bay: The water is usually gentle, with no Atlantic-style surf, so it suits weaker swimmers and kids. Morning is calmest and clearest.
  3. Kayaking across the bay: Flat conditions make this an easy paddle along the Point Salines shoreline. You can look back at the villas and hillside from the water.
  4. A drink at La Sirena Beach Bar: The bar sits directly behind the sand, so you can go from the water to a shaded seat in a few steps. It is the easiest place on the beach to pass an afternoon.
  5. Walking the coast to Pink Gin Beach: Head along the shore past small
… read more 👉
  1. Snorkeling off the rocks at the south end: The best spot is in front of the Aquarium restaurant, where rocks meet calm, clear water. Fish gather along the rock edges, so you can drift along the shoreline without a boat or a guide.
  2. Swimming in the bay: The water is usually gentle, with no Atlantic-style surf, so it suits weaker swimmers and kids. Morning is calmest and clearest.
  3. Kayaking across the bay: Flat conditions make this an easy paddle along the Point Salines shoreline. You can look back at the villas and hillside from the water.
  4. A drink at La Sirena Beach Bar: The bar sits directly behind the sand, so you can go from the water to a shaded seat in a few steps. It is the easiest place on the beach to pass an afternoon.
  5. Walking the coast to Pink Gin Beach: Head along the shore past small rocky coves toward Pink Gin Beach and the Sandals Grenada grounds next door. The route gives you changing views of the coast, and you can stop to swim in the coves along the way.
Magazine Beach itself costs nothing to swim from, and walking the coast toward Pink Gin Beach is just as free.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Magazine Beach

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Seven Sisters Falls Hike / Annandale Falls / Grand Etang National Park & Lake

Seven Sisters Falls Hike / Annandale Falls / Grand Etang National Park & Lake

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Private Full-day Tour in Grenada with Pickup

Private Full-day Tour in Grenada with Pickup

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Half-Day Grenada Tour With Easy

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Skilla’s Luxury 24/7 Taxi & Tours Grenada

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Chasing Waterfalls in Grenada Hike and Adventure Tours

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Full-Day Tour: Belmont Estate, Rum Distillery, Grand Etang

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Dry Season (December to May): Magazine Beach is at its best from January to April, with sunny days of 28 to 31°C (82 to 88°F), cooler evenings near 24°C (75°F) and calm, clear water for snorkeling off the rocks. This is also when the resort next door fills up, so beds in the Point Salines area cost 30 to 50 percent more, especially over Christmas and Carnival-adjacent weeks.
  • Shoulder Months (May to June): Rain starts to creep in, but the sea stays warm at about 28°C (82°F), crowds thin out and prices ease. Good value.
  • Wet Season (July to November): Expect afternoon downpours, higher humidity and temperatures of 26 to 31°C (79 to 88°F). Visibility for snorkeling can drop after heavy rain, and August to October carries the highest tropical storm risk, though Grenada is rarely hit directly. Rates
… read more 👉
  • Dry Season (December to May): Magazine Beach is at its best from January to April, with sunny days of 28 to 31°C (82 to 88°F), cooler evenings near 24°C (75°F) and calm, clear water for snorkeling off the rocks. This is also when the resort next door fills up, so beds in the Point Salines area cost 30 to 50 percent more, especially over Christmas and Carnival-adjacent weeks.
  • Shoulder Months (May to June): Rain starts to creep in, but the sea stays warm at about 28°C (82°F), crowds thin out and prices ease. Good value.
  • Wet Season (July to November): Expect afternoon downpours, higher humidity and temperatures of 26 to 31°C (79 to 88°F). Visibility for snorkeling can drop after heavy rain, and August to October carries the highest tropical storm risk, though Grenada is rarely hit directly. Rates are lowest, and the beach is often nearly empty.
  • Daylight: Days stay close to 11 to 13 hours all year, so plan beach time before late afternoon.
Book mid-December and Carnival-period (August) stays early, or visit in late May for dry weather and lower prices.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: good for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
grenada-beach-magazine-beach
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🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Point Salines and the Grand Anse side of the south coast are the best places for backpackers to stay near Magazine Beach, because the beach is only a few minutes from Maurice Bishop International Airport and the area has the island’s densest mix of guesthouses, cheap eateries and bus routes.

Staying around Point Salines puts you within walking distance of the sand, the Aquarium restaurant end where the snorkeling is best, and La Sirena Beach Bar for a cheap rum punch at sunset. It suits an arrival or departure night, and small guesthouses and apartments here run roughly US$45 to 90 a night for … read more 👉
Point Salines and the Grand Anse side of the south coast are the best places for backpackers to stay near Magazine Beach, because the beach is only a few minutes from Maurice Bishop International Airport and the area has the island’s densest mix of guesthouses, cheap eateries and bus routes.

Staying around Point Salines puts you within walking distance of the sand, the Aquarium restaurant end where the snorkeling is best, and La Sirena Beach Bar for a cheap rum punch at sunset. It suits an arrival or departure night, and small guesthouses and apartments here run roughly US$45 to 90 a night for a double, with kitchens that let you cook and save money.

Grand Anse, a short minibus ride away, is the more social choice. It has the largest number of budget rooms, hostel-style dorms, beach bars and restaurants, and it is easy to meet other travelers there. Dorm beds run about US$25 to 40, private rooms US$55 to 100. Minibuses along the south coast road are frequent and cost around US$1 to 2, so you can sleep at Grand Anse and still reach Magazine Beach easily.

St. George’s is a reasonable third option if you want city life and ferry access, about 20 to 30 minutes by bus.
Best hostels in Grenada


Best quality hotels in Grenada

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Magazine Beach is generally calm and low-risk, with usually gentle Caribbean water that suits casual swimmers and kayakers. There is no surf or strong rip current to worry about, and the best entry is off the rocks in front of the Aquarium restaurant at the south end, where the water is clearest and the snorkeling is easiest. After heavy rain, runoff can cloud the water, so swim on clearer days.

The sand is limited and the shoreline is rocky in places, so reef shoes help when getting in and out. Urchins can sit in the crevices, so look before you put a hand or foot down. Sun is the real issue. Midday heat is intense and shade is thin, so cover up and drink plenty of water.

There are no formal lifeguard flags, so swim near others and keep close to shore. Petty theft from unattended bags is … read more 👉
Magazine Beach is generally calm and low-risk, with usually gentle Caribbean water that suits casual swimmers and kayakers. There is no surf or strong rip current to worry about, and the best entry is off the rocks in front of the Aquarium restaurant at the south end, where the water is clearest and the snorkeling is easiest. After heavy rain, runoff can cloud the water, so swim on clearer days.

The sand is limited and the shoreline is rocky in places, so reef shoes help when getting in and out. Urchins can sit in the crevices, so look before you put a hand or foot down. Sun is the real issue. Midday heat is intense and shade is thin, so cover up and drink plenty of water.

There are no formal lifeguard flags, so swim near others and keep close to shore. Petty theft from unattended bags is uncommon but possible, so leave valuables at your accommodation or keep them with you. Daylight hours are the best time to visit.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Magazine Beach is only a few minutes from Maurice Bishop International Airport, so a taxi from the terminal costs roughly US$10 to 15 and takes about 5 to 10 minutes. From Grand Anse or St. George’s you can take a minibus along the south coast road toward Point Salines for about US$1 to 2, taking 20 to 30 minutes from the capital. Ask the driver to drop you at the Point Salines turnoff and walk the short remaining distance.
Swimming and snorkeling are both good at Magazine Beach, with usually gentle Caribbean water and no big surf, so it is not a surfing spot. The best snorkeling is off the rocks in front of the Aquarium restaurant at the south end, where you can see small reef fish in shallow water. Kayaking is also popular on calm mornings, and bringing your own mask and fins saves rental costs of roughly US$10 to 20.
Magazine Beach is free to visit, and there is no entrance charge to reach the sand or the water. Costs only come from what you buy, such as a drink at La Sirena Beach Bar (about US$3 to 8) or a meal at the Aquarium restaurant, which runs around US$15 to 30. Sun loungers at the beach bars may be free with a purchase, and the beach sits next to Pink Gin Beach and Sandals Grenada, which you can walk toward over rocky coves.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Grenadian beaches near Magazine Beach

Explore more nearby:

  • Pink Gin Beach—Long curved sand, public beach, shallow floating, sea grape shade| 1 km away
  • Morne Rouge Beach—Small sheltered cove, rocky-point snorkeling, headland path, beach bars| 2 km away
  • Grand Anse Beach—Three-kilometer shoreline, craft and spice market, west-facing sunsets, resort end to quiet end| 3 km away

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Magazine Beach tempts people to treat it as an airport-day stop and rush the water, but the snorkeling at the south end is the real draw. Go in the morning, bring your own mask, and give the rocks a full hour. Skip the middle of the day, when the glare flattens everything.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Grenada. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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